Injecting projectile



Oct. 5, 1965 J. A. CROCKFORD ETAL 3,209,695

INJECTING PROJECTILE Filed June 17, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG I IN VEN TORS JACK A. OROGKFORD ET AL BY 'H M ATTORNEY 5, 1965 J. A. CROCKFORD ETAL 3,209,695

INJECTING PROJECTILE Filed June 17, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 5 IN VEN TORS JACK A. GROGKFORD ET. AL

ATTORNEY Oct. 5, 1965 J. A. CROCKFORD ETAL 5 INJECTING PROJECTILE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 17, 1963 W 5V 4/114 M United States Patent 3,209,695 INEECTING PROJECTILE Jack A. Crockford, Chamblee, and Frank A. Hayes, Athens, Ga., Seldom D. Feurt, Memphis, Tenn, and James H. Jenkins, Athens, and Harold C. Palmer, Douglasviile, Ga., assignors to Palmer Chemical 8: Equipment Co., 'Inc., Douglasville, Ga.

Filed June 17, 1963, Ser. No. 290,275 10 Claims. (Cl. 102-92) This application is a continuation in part of our co-pending applications, Ser. No. 35,233 filed June 10, 1960, now abandoned and Ser. No. 161,895 filed Dec. 26, 1961, now abandoned. The instant application also covers further improvements to the structure shown in re-issue United States Patent Nos. 2,854,925 issued Oct. 7, 1958 and 2,923,423 issued Feb. 2, 1960. The instant invention is also utilized in connection with our novel method of capturing animals.

This invention relates to an injecting projectile which finds its principal application when utilized to inject a liquid drug into an animal at a distance therefrom.

In our issued patents We have previously employed the combination of a liquid and solid gas propelling reactant which would produce a gas upon interaction and thereby propel the drug into the body of the animal. The reactants were not adapted to interact until the proper time. In our prior application, Serial No. 35,233, of which this application is a continuation in part, we disclosed a structure wherein a firing pin would cause chemical explosive material to explode upon impact of the projectile with the animal and the gases produced would thus propel the material contained within the projectile. This structure constituted a great improvement over the structure shown in our re-issued patents in that the triggering was considerably more positive, the propelling reactants did not disintegrate on standing, and loading of difficult to handle materials within the projectile in the field was obviated. The structure of Ser. No. 35,233, on the other hand, also had a number of disadvantages involving possible inadvertent triggering of the mechanism because of the type of propellant employed or insufiicient propulsive force because of the small quantity of propellant that was required to beutilized. The structure shown in Ser. No. 35,233 is shown in this application in FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof.

The structure shown in FIGS. 7 through 13 of the instant application constitutes considerable improvements over the structure shown in Ser. No. 35,233 and is essentially the structure disclosed in Ser. No. 161,895. This structure provides a positive device which should operate one hundred times out of one hundred. In this connection, of course, the reader can see the disadvantages of finding an inoperative projectile when the operator of the device is confronted, for example, by a charging lion.

The projectile of this invention may be briefly described as comprising a container adapted to have a drug disposed therewithin. Injection means (such as the conventional hollow needle) and a drug propelling member are in operative relationship with the container. Explosive means are in operative relationship with the drug propelling member and are actuated by change of motion (preferably upon impact) of the projectile upon an animal.

The form of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 through 13 may be briefly described as a projectile for drug delivery comprising a liquid drug holding container, injection means upon the container (preferably a hollow needle communicating with the interior thereof), a drug propelling member slidably movable within the container, and explosive container connected to the drug propelling member open at one end thereof and adapted to support explosive material adjacent its closed end, a firing pin slidably movable within the explosive container, and spring means connected with the firing pin normally holding the firing pin in spaced relationship with the closed end of the explosive container.

In the preferred modification of this invention shown in FIGS. 7 through 13 the drug propelling member is cylindrical and is provided with a wing member opposite the hollow needle. The drug propelling member is also cylindrical and bears ridges abutting the inner surface of the container. The drug propelling member is further provided with a cylindrical recess therewithin open at the top thereof.

The explosive container is likewise cylindrical and is open at one end thereof. A securing portion is disposed adjacent the open end of the explosive container. The explosive container is frictionally disposed within the recess in the drug propelling member, with the open end of the explosive container being adjacent the open end of the recess.

The firing pin in the form of invention shown in FIGS. 7 through 13 has a body portion and a narrower projecting actuating portion while the spring means comprise a coil spring abutting the junction between the body portion and the actuating portion of the firing pin with the actuating portion of the firing pin being within the coil spring.

The explosive material which is used in the form of invention shown in FIGS. 7 through 13 is of two classes. The first, a secondarily detonatable explosive material, such as black powder, is disposed within the explosive container adjacent its closed end. A barrier member is provided in adjacent relationship on one side thereof with the secondarily detonatable explosive material, and is provided with an opening therewith. Primarily detonatable explosive material, such as mercuric fulminate is disposed upon the opposite side of the barrier member and in normally spaced relationship with the firing pin.

Various specific constructional features may be also part of this invention in the preferred modification thereof, although not strictly necessary for the operation thereof. These additional features are set forth in the specification, drawings, and appended claims.

The invention will be further described by reference to the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this specification.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the projectile of this invention prior to the firing thereof with the parts in the position that they normally assume. A portion of the projectile has been broken away to show the internal structure.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the projectile similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the parts in the position that they assume immediately upon impact of the projectile upon an animal.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the projectile similar to those of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the manner in which the drug is expelled from the projectile after detonation of the explosive means.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternative form of the projectile of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the container portion of the projectile of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an exploded side view of the parts used in the form of the projectile shown in FIG. 4, except for the container which is shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the preferred modification of an injecting projectile used in the method of this invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view similar to FIG. 7 but with a portion of the injecting projectile cut away so as to show the internal structure.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of the injecting projectile shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 but with the drug propelling member and the explosive container portions of the projectile cut away so as to show the internal structure.

FIG. is a sectional view of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 9 taken along lines 1010 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 9 taken along lines 1111 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a detail perspective view of a firing pin which is utilized in the preferred modification of the instant invention.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the structure of this invention similar to that shown in FIG. 9, but indicating the position that the firing pin assumes upon impact of the projectile with an object and the operation of various parts of this invention.

Referring first to the specific form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 of the drawings the projectile 11 is formed with a hollow container 12 which is adapted to hold a drug therewithin. The drug, in order to properly operate in this invention, should be in liquid form. A front plate 13 bears threads 14 and gasket 15 and is adapted to be threadedly secured to the forward portion 16 of container 12. Forward portion 16 of container 12 bears mating threads (not shown) on the inner surface thereof.

A hollow needle 17 is disposed upon front plate 13. The cavity 19 of needle 17 communicates with the interior of container 12 through a hole (not shown) within front plate 13. A holding portion 18 is disposed upon needle 17 to prevent needle 17 from slipping out of the body of the animal after impact has occurred.

A stabilizing member 20 is disposed upon the rear portion of container 12. Stabilizing member 20 bears threads 21, gasket 22 and wing portion 23. Threads 21 are adapted to mate with additional threads (not shown) on the inner surface of rear portion 24 of container 12.

A drug propelling member 25 is disposed within container 12 and is adapted to move slidably within said container. Drug propelling member 25 is normally spaced from the forward portion 16 of container 12. A liquid drug 26 is disposed within container 12 forward of drug propelling member 25.

An explosive container 27 is secured to drug propelling member 25 and is preferably behind said member. Explosive container 27 bears offset portions 28 at the rear thereof and a firing pin 29 movable within explosive container 27. A quantity of conventional percussion cap explosive material 30 used in the conventional rifle cartridge (generally a mercuric fulminate composition) is disposed at the forward end 31 of explosive container 27. Percussion cap material 30 is in hardened form so that impact of firing pin 29 will explode said material.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative method of placing the explosive material within explosive container 27. In this construction an auxiliary container 32 is provided and the percussion cap material 30 is disposed within auxiliary container 32. Thus improved assembly of the device can be accomplished.

The assembly of this form of the invention will now be explained.

The container 12 is taken by the assembler and drug propelling member 25 placed within the container at the normal position. A quantity of liquid drug to be used with the projectile is then placed within the forward portion of the projectile ahead of drug propelling member 25. Front plate 13 and its associated parts together with gasket 15 are then threadedly assembled to the forward portion 16 of container 12.

Explosive container 27 is separately assembled and then placed into position upon drug propelling member 25. Stabilizing member 20, its associated parts and gasket 22 are threadedly assembled to the rear portion 24 of container 12.

In the operation of this invention the assembled projectile is placed within a gun actuated by gas or by gun- 4: powder and fired at the animal into whose body the drug 26 is desired to be injected. During the time that the projectile is in motion the firing pin 29 is kept back of the explosive material 30. When the projectile hits the animal, however, firing pin 29 moves forward and strikes explosive material 311 with considerable force thereby exploding said material. The force of the explosion moves drug propelling member forwardly and drives the drug contained within container 12 into the animal. The force, however, is not sufiicient to rupture the projectile.

The form of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 through 13 of the drawings will now be described in detail.

The injecting projectile 11a of this form of invention is formed with a hollow body 12a. A drug propelling member 13a is disposed within body 12a and is slidably movable therewithin. Drug propelling member 13a bears ridges 14a which abut the interior surface of body 12a.

Propelling member 13a is further provided with a recess 15 open at the top thereof.

Injecting means comprising a hollow needle 1611, which communicates with the interior of body 12a, projects forwardly from projectile 11a. Needle 16 is secured to front member 17a which in turn is threadedly engaged to body 12a. A barb 18a may further be provided upon needle 16a so that needle 16a may be held in injecting position when it strikes an animal.

A wing member 19a is provided at the opposite end of body 12a and is secured to rear member 20a which in turn is threadedly secured to body portion 12a.

A explosive container 21a is frictionally secured within recess 15a and is open at the top 22a. A pair of overhanging securing portions 23a are provided adjacent top portion 220:.

A secondarily detonatable explosive 2411, such as black powder, is disposed adjacent the closed end 25a of explosive container 21a.

A barrier member 26a is formed with a plurality of openings 27a and presents one face thereof in adjacent relationship with explosive material 24a. A primarily detonatable explosive material 2801, such as mercuric fulminate or other percussion cap material, is disposed adjacent the opposite face of barrier 26a. A firing pin 29a is formed with a body portion 30a and a narrower projecting actuating portion 31a. A coil spring 32a abuts the junction between body portion 311a and actuating portion 31a of firing pin 29a with the actuating portion 31a being within coil spring 32a. Firing pin 29a is slidably movable within explosive container 21a and is normally disposed in spaced relationship with primarily detonatable explosive material 28a. Body portion 30a of firing pin 29a is also disposed in spaced relationship with the adjacent walls of explosive container 21a so that the gases proiuced by the operating explosion will not aifect the par With the foregoing description the operation of this form of invention will now be explained.

The liquid drug 62a, which is to be injected into the animal, is disposed within the forward portion of body portion 12a adjacent needle 1611. Since channel 63a Within needle 16a is relatively small compared to the internal diameter of body 12a of projectile 11a the liquid drug 62a is maintained in position by atmospheric pressure and will not normally leak through channel 63a. Drug propelling member 13a is then disposed above the liquid drug material and explosive container 21a frictionally disposed Within the recess within drug propelling member 13a and projects behind member 13a. The projectile 11a is then placed within firing means such as a gun and fired at the animal. So long as projectile 11a is traveling through the air, the inertial forces involved hold firing pin 29 in the position shown in FIG. 9 and in spaced relationship with primarily detonatable explosive material 28a. When the projectile strikes the animal, on the other hand, the forces involved force firing pin 29a against the tension of spring 32a into impinging relationship with primarily detonatable explosive material 28a as shown in FIG. 13. The detonation of explosive material 28a causes a further detonation of secondarily detonatable explosive material 24a and thus produces a gas which escapes from explosive container 21a in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 13. The gas pressure produced then moves drug propelling member 13a forwardly and expels the liquid drug into the body of the animal.

The foregoing specific modifications of the instant invention as shown in the specification herein are for illustrative purposes and for purposes of example only. Various changes and modifications may obviously be made within the spirit and scope of this invention and would occur to those skilled in this art.

We claim:

1. A projectile for drug delivery to animals comprising a liquid drug-holding container, injection means and stabilizing means upon said container at opposite ends thereof, a drug propelling member movable within said container, an open explosive container connected to said drug propelling member, solid explosive material within said explosive container, a movable firing pin abuttable with said explosive material, said firing pin being driven into said explosive material upon impact of said drugholding container against an animal.

2. A projectile for drug delivery to animals comprising a hollow container adapted to hold a liquid drug therewithin and having a forward end and a rearward end, a hollow needle at the forward end of said drug-holding container communicating with the interior thereof, stabilizing means at the rearward end of said drug-holding container, a drug propelling member movable within said drug-holding container and normally spaced from the forward end thereof, an open explosive container secured to said drug propelling member, solid explosive material within said explosive container, a movable firing pin abuttable with said explosive material, said firing pin being driven into said explosive material upon impact of said projectile with an animal so that said drug propelling member is moved forwardly and drives said liquid drug into the animal.

3. A projectile for liquid drug delivery into animals comprising a hollow drug-holding container having a forward end and a rearward end, a hollow needle at the forward end of said drug-holding container communicating with the interior thereof, a stabilizing member at the rearward end of said drug-holding container, a drug propelling member movable within said drug-holding container and normally spaced from the forward end thereof, an open explosive container secured to said drug propelling member, solid explosive material within said explosive container, and a firing pin movable within said explosive container, said firing pin being driven into said explosive material upon impact of said projectile with an animal so that said drug propelling member is moved forwardly and drives said liquid drug into the animal.

4. A projectile for liquid drug delivery into animals comprising a hollow drug-holding container having a forward end and a rearward end, a hollow needle at the forward end of said drug-holding container communicating with the interior thereof, a stabilizing member at the rearward end of said drug-holding container, a drug propelling member slidably movable within said container normally spaced from the forward end of said drug-holding container and disposed behind the liquid drug contained therewithin, an explosive container open at its rearward end secured behind said drug propelling member, solid explosive material within said explosive container, and a firing pin movable within said explosive container, said firing pin being driven into said explosive material upon impact of said projectile with an animal so that said drug propelling member is moved forwardly and drives said liquid drug into the animal.

5. A projectile for drug delivery comprising:

(a) a liquid drug holding container,

(b) injection means upon said container,

(0) a drug propelling member slidably movable within said container,

(d) an explosive container connected to said drug propelling member open at one end thereof, closed at the opposite end thereof, and having solid explosive material therewithin adjacent the closed end thereof,

(e) a firing pin slidably movable within said explosive container,

(f) spring means connected with said firing pin normally holding said firing pin in spaced relationship with the closed end of said explosive container.

6. A projectile for drug delivery comprising:

(a) a liquid drug holding container,

(b) injection means upon said container,

(c) a drug propelling member slidably movable within said container, and provided with a recess therewithin open at one end thereof,

((1) an explosive container open at one end thereof and closed at its opposite end thereof disposed within the recess within the drug propelling member, the open end of said explosive container being open in the same direction as the open end of the recess,

(e) said explosive container having solid explosive ma terial therewithin adjacent the closed end thereof,

(f) a firing pin slidably movable within said explosive container,

(g) spring means connected with said firing pin normally holding said firing pin in spaced relationship with the closed end of said explosive container,

(h) said firing pin being driven into abutting relationship with the closed end of said explosive container against the tension of said spring means upon impact of said projectile with an object.

7. A projectile for drug delivery comprising, in combination,

(a) a hollow liquid drug holding container,

(b) a hollow needle at one end of said container communicating with the interior thereof,

(c) a drug propelling member slidably movable within said container having ridges on the outer surface thereof and provided with a recess therewithin open at the top thereof,

(d) an explosive container open at one end thereof, closed at the opposite end thereof, having a securing portion adjacent said open end and disposed within the recess within the drug propelling member, the open end of said explosive container being open in the same direction as the open end of the recess,

(e) said explosive container having solid explosive material therewithin adjacent the closed end thereof,

(f) a firing pin slidably movable within said explosive container, said firing pin having a body portion and a projecting actuating portion,

(g) coil spring means abutting the body portion of said firing pin, and normally holding said firing pin in spaced relationship with the closed end of said explosive container, said actuating portion of said firing pin being within said coil spring means,

(h) said firing pin being driven into abutting relationship with the closed end of said explosive container against the tension of said coil spring means upon impact of said projectile with an object.

8. A projectile for drug delivery comprising, in combination,

(a) a hollow cylindrical liquid drug holding container,

(b) a hollow needle at one end of said container communicating with the interior thereof,

(c) a Wing member at the other end of said container,

((1) a cylindrical drug propelling member slidably movable within said container abutting the inner surface thereof, having ridges on its outer surface and provided with a cylindrical recess therewithin open at the top thereof,

(e) a cylindrical explosive container open at one end thereof, closed at the opposite end thereof, having a securing portion adjacent said open end and frictionally disposed within the recess within the drug propelling member, the open end of said explosive container being open in the same direction as the open end of the recess,

(f) said explosive container having solid explosive material therewithin adjacent the closed end thereof, (g) a firing pin slidably movable within said explosive container, said firing pin having a body portion and a projecting actuating portion,

(h) a coil spring abutting the junction between the body portion and the actuating portion of said firing pin and normally holding said firing pin in spaced relationship with said explosive material, said actuating portion of said firing pin being within said coil spring,

(i) said firing pin being driven into abutting relationship with the closed end of said explosive container against the tension of said coil spring upon impact of said projectile with an object.

9. A projectile for drug delivery comprising, in combination:

(a) a hollow cylindrical liquid drug holding container,

(b) a hollow needle at one end of said container,

(c) a Wing member at the other end of said container,

(d) a cylindrical drug propelling member slidably movable within said container abutting the inner surface thereof, having ridges on its outer surface and provided with a cylindrical recess therewithin open at the top thereof,

(e) a cylindrical explosive container open at one end thereof, closed at the opposite end thereof, having a securing portion adjacent said open end and frictionally disposed within the recess within the drug propelling member, the open end of said explosive container being open in the same direction as the open end of the recess,

(f) solid explosive material adjacent the closed end of said explosive container,

(g) a firing pin slidably movable within said explosive container, said firing pin having a body portion and a narrower projecting actuating portion,

(h) a coil spring abutting the junction between the body portion and the actuating portion of said firing pin and normally holding said firing pin in spaced relationship with said explosive material, said actuating portion of said firing pin being within said coil spring,

(i) said firing pin being driven into abutting relationship with said explosive material against the tension of said coil spring upon impact of said projectile with an object.

10. A projectile for drug delivery at a distance comprising, in combination:

(a) a hollow cylindrical liquid drug holding container,

(b) a hollow needle at one end of said container communicating with the interior thereof,

(0) a wing member at the other end of said container,

(d) a cylindrical drug propelling member slidably movable within said container abutting the inner surface thereof, having ridges on its outer surface and provided with a cylindrical recess therewithin open at the top thereof,

(e) a cylindrical explosive container open at one end thereof and closed at its opposite end thereof having a securing portion adjacent said open end and frictionally disposed within the recess within the drug propelling member, the open end of said explosive container being adjacent the open end of the recess,

(f) solid secondarily detonatable explosive material adjacent the closed end of said explosive container,

(g) a barrier member adjacent on one side thereof with said secondarily detonatable explosive material and provided with an opening therewithin,

(h) solid primarily detontable explosive material adjacent the opposite side of said barrier member,

(i) a firing pin slidably movable within said explosive container, said firing pin having a body portion and a narrower projecting actuating portion,

(j) a coil spring abutting the junction between the body portion and the actuating portion of said firing pin and normally holding said firing pin in spaced relationship with said primarily detonatable explosive material, said actuating portion of said firing pin being within said coil spring,

(k) said firing pin being driven into abutting relationship with the primarily detonatable explosive material against the tension of said coil spring upon impact of said projectile with an object.

10/58 Crockford et al. 10292 2/63 Crockford et al. 10292 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PROJECTILE FOR DRUG DELIVERY TO ANIMALS COMPRISING A LIQUID DRUG-HOLDING CONTAINER, INJECTION MEANS AND STABILIZING MEANS UPON SAID CONTAINER AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, A DRUG PROPELLING MEMBER MOVABLE WITHIN SAID CONTAINER, AN OPEN EXPLOSIVE CONTAINER CONNECTED TO SAID DRUG PROPELLING MEMBER, SOLID EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL WITHIN SAID EXPLOSIVE CONTAINER, A MOVABLE FIRING PIN ABUTTABLE WITH SAID EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL, SAID FIRING PIN BEING DRIVEN INTO SAID EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL UPON IMPACT OF SAID DRUGHOLDING CONTAINER AGAINST AN ANIMAL. 